GEORGE TOWN — Angsana trees require ample space to allow their roots to spread and maintain healthy growth, experts warn, amid concerns that urban development is increasingly restricting their natural root expansion.

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Saiful Ahmad Hamdani, deputy dean of development and networking at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Agriculture Faculty, explained that Angsana tree roots tend to grow outward close to the ground rather than deep underground. This growth pattern makes the trees susceptible to damage from nearby construction activities such as roadworks, drainage projects, and land development.

“Urban development, road widening and drainage construction often cut into or restrict root spread, weakening the tree’s stability,” Muhammad Saiful said following the 13th International Conference on Plant Protection in the Tropics 2026. He also serves as president of the Malaysian Plant Protection Society.

He emphasized that protecting Angsana trees involves safeguarding their root systems. Impeding root growth with paving materials, bricks, roads, or piled structures can jeopardize the trees’ health and longevity by limiting their ability to absorb water and nutrients.

“The main thing is to give the trees enough space to grow. Do not interrupt their growth and movement,” he said, highlighting the importance of allowing unimpeded root expansion to prevent decline and potential death.

Damage to roots not only compromises the overall health of the tree but also reduces its structural support, increasing the risk of mature trees toppling in severe weather conditions such as heavy rain and strong winds. To address these risks, Muhammad Saiful recommends regular inspections—ideally on a monthly basis—to identify root or structural issues early.

The warning comes amid ongoing challenges in Penang, where authorities are managing the fate of numerous century-old Angsana trees. Recently, around 170 of these veteran trees were cut down for various reasons, including being dead, leaning dangerously, posing collapse risks, or obstructing drainage systems.

As urban expansion continues in Penang and other parts of Malaysia, experts are calling for more careful planning to ensure the survival of these trees, which provide shade and environmental benefits, by allocating sufficient space for their roots and minimizing construction interference.